Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West has disclosed the names of Nigerian lawmakers who opposed the Senate’s approval of President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. This is according to a report by the Daily Post.
Tinubu announced the measure on Tuesday night amid the state’s political crisis, also suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Ngozi Odu for six months.
The Senate endorsed the proclamation during a closed-door session on Thursday, prompted by a letter from Tinubu read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a Friday statement, Dickson detailed his objections, arguing the declaration was unconstitutional. He highlighted the robust closed-session debate, thanking Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for strongly opposing the suspension of elected officials.
Dickson lamented the lack of an open plenary debate, noting the majority supported the measure regardless. He walked out before Akpabio reported the outcome, unwilling to endorse it, and believes Senators Tambuwal, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and others did the same.
Dickson emphasized his consistent stance against the proclamation, supported by Tambuwal and a few unrecognized senators. Despite their efforts, the majority prevailed, leaving the minority to voice dissent in the closed session.